National Republican., 1887-02-12
Breakfast Table Letter to tho President.

Mn. PRESIDENT The people of the loyal
states read with profound interest and deep
concern the scores of veto messages OF special
pension bills which you sent to Congress at
its last session. Upon the issue OF Judgment
and policy, raised by those veto messages, the
state OF Indiana changed front politically and
elected Republican for lieutenant governor.
AT the opening Of the present session of Con.
gress you created n most favorable impression
upon the minds the American people by in
Producing into your message powerful ap
peal for general Law for the ben ,lt of de-
pendent soldiers in the following language:
Every patriotic heart responds to tender
consideration for those who, having served
their country long and we'll, are reduced to
destitulion and dependence, not as an incident
of their service, but with advancing age or
through sickness or misfortune. We are all
TEMPTED by the contemplation of such
Condition to supply relief, and are often i'm
patient OF the limitations of public duty.
Yielding 10 no one in the desire to Indulge this
feeling OF consideration, cannot rid myself
of the conviction that, II these eX-soliiers are
10 be relieved, they anl their cause are
entitled to the benefit of an enact
mCnt under which relief may b.
claimed as right, and that such relief should
be granted under the sanction of law, mt in
evasion of 1t; nor should such worthy objects
of care, all equally entitled, be remltted to the
unequal operation of sympathy, or the tender
mercies of social and political influence with
their unjust determinations"
Congress has responded to those recommen
da,ions by the passage of an act for the relief
of dependent parents and honorably dis.
charged soldiers and sailors who are now dis.
abled and dependent upon their own labor for
support.
This act you have returned to Congress, with
the statement: ~ am not willing to approve
measure presenting the objections to which
this bill is subject, AID which, moreover,
will have the effect of Disappointing the ex'
rcctation the people and their desire and
hope for relief from war taxation in time of
peace.'
Among other reasons for veto you state that
the relief comes too soon; not enough dead
men, too many living. 1t Will cost too much
money, having already paid out for pensions,
from 1861 to July l, 1856, ss0s, ,62iS Sll.51.
Your annual message stirred the consciences
| of the members Of Congress to such an extent
that they have passed the act for service pen.
| sions to the soldiers of ali wars in which the
| United States have been engaged Civ.
ing pension of sl2 per month
| The soldiers in the war of the rebel
| lion consequently, as stated in your message,
are given relief "thrteen years earlier than 1t
| has been furnished to the soldiers of any other
war, and before large majority of its bene-
llcianes have advanced in age beyoad the
strength and the vis)r of the prime of life"
MIR. Presidents Please note that the bill does
not provide for this class of persons
Persons seeking to obtain the pension pro-
yided by this section must be now or hereafter
II, Suffering from mental or physical dis
ability
go. Such disability must not be the result of
their own vicious habits or gross carelessness.'
"3. Such disability must be such as inca
racitates them for the performance of labor in
such degree as to render them unable to earn
a support.
~. They must be dependent upon their
daily lator for support.
rs. Upon proof OF these conditions they shall
be placed on the lists OF invalid pensioners of
the United States and be entitled to receive for
such total inability to procure their subsst-
ence by daily labor sl2 per moath.'"
Again your message states: Hitherto such
relief has been granted TO surviving soldiers,
few in number, venerable in age, after long
lapse Of time since their military service, and
as parting beneiaction rendered by a crate.
ful people"
This indicates that the Democracy wants to
treat the private soldier somewhat as the
Democratic House Of Representatives did
Gen. Grant Wait until disease had brought
him nigh unto death, then place him on the
retired list.
This country to-day has the remarkable
spectacle presented of "a Democratic President
vetoing general pension law in order to en-
able Congress to reduce the war taxes, and
Democratic speaker of the Democratic House
Of Representatives using his power to gag Con.
gress to prevent the removal OF the war tax
upon tobacco.
This republic was saved by the verdict of
battle, that this government of the people
should not perish from the earth.
Should not, therefore, public moneys be ap.
proprlOted to relieve any disabled dependent,
suffering soldiers who wore the blue?
THE NATIONAL REPUBLICAN.
Ahead of All Competitors.
lFrplorickshuTp Free lance